MGM, a company based out of Nevada, held a ceremony in celebration of the 1,000th hired construction worker. MGM National Harbor Casino in Maryland, is set to open their doors in 2016. There is great progress being accomplished, with the amount of construction workers employed. This project is costing approximately $1.2 billion. Larry Hogan, Gov. of Maryland says it is, “one of the most important economic development projects in Maryland’s history.”

Some of the critics are saying, efforts are not enough with hiring, minority owned businesses that are local. It is said that businesses that are owned by minority’s, have been left out of the jobs. At the moment there are over sixty, of these businesses that were hired, for the construction. Days before the ceremony, owners of local businesses said, MGM is not contracting enough companies that are local. Gordon M. Absher states, “ we are actively looking to work with minority and locally owned businesses.” Absher works for MGM resorts International as the vice president for public affairs, and corporate communications.

Projections of having around 2,000 jobs in construction, and 4,000 jobs that will be permanent, was made last year. Only 8% of the project was completed at the end of 2014, when 62 businesses, owned by minority’s had been working. There is still plenty of time to boost the number of contractors, toward the 2,000 mark.

Information about the agreement the casino has with the county, will be given to the committee, that oversees the project. One of the agreements MGM had with the county, is to have 20% of the workforce local. If the numbers meet the agreed upon amount, will be known at the end of the quarter. The casino is required to show the hiring and participation of the businesses that are local, every quarter. If the casino falls below that number, after showing best efforts to reach it, they will have to make a punitive contribution. This will be made to Community Foundation of Prince George’s County.

This casino resort plans on 160 table games, 3,600 slot machines, a luxury hotel of 300 rooms. There will also be a theater that will fit 3,000 people.